Applications for SC chief justice now open

MANILA -- The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the application for the position of Supreme Court Chief Justice.

Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Theodore Te made the announcement on Monday, June 25, a week after the court affirmed its decision to oust Maria Lourdes Sereno with finality.

According to the JBC, the deadline for the completion of the requirements for all applicants is on July 26.

The documentary requirements to be submitted include, among others, the applicant's Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, application or recommendation, personal data sheet, certificate of employment and medical examination results.

According to the JBC, the five most senior Associate Justices are automatically nominated, subject to the submission of a written acceptance of nomina- tion to be submitted also on or before July 26.

The five most senior justices are Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin.

Velasco and Leonardo-De Castro are, however, nearing their retirement. Velasco will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on August 8 while Leonar-

do-De Castro is set to retire on October 8.

The JBC on Monday also released the names of the eight individuals who passed the screening it conducted for the Associate Justice post that will be vacated by Velasco.

The following are included in the shortlist: Court of Appeals Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas Jr., Rosmari Carandang, Ramon Garcia, Ramon Paul Hernando, Amy Lazaro-Javier, and Jose Reyes Jr.; Court Administrator Jose MidasMarquez; and former Ateneo Law School dean Cesar Villanueva.

The shortlist will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte who is the appointing authority pursuant to the Constitution.